Door check



May 2, 1950 F. L. THARP 2,506,284

DOOR CHECK Filed June 14, 1946 3 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 772d 1. Tiary.

y 2, 1950 L F. THARP 2,506,284

DOOR CHECK Filed June 14, I946 5 Sheets-Sheet-5 INVENTOR. 7739.42 ,4. 7 X14r v. BY

Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to door checks and especially to a device of this character adapted to be installed on a door frame in connection with an outside door, such as a, storm door, and adapted to cushion and check the abrupt or violent opening of the door so as to prevent damage when the door is caught by a strong wind.

An object of the invention is to provide a door check so constructed as to ofier in improved manner a plurality of stages of cushioning resistance to the opening movement of the door, the improved construction and operation of the device being such as to provide relatively light yielding resistance to normal opening movement of the door and thereafter a progressively increasing yielding resistance of such magnitude as to prevent the door being swung open beyond predetermined limits thereby precluding any possibility of the door crashing against the building wall.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved door check device having a single coil spring adapted to be progressively deflected or stretched during normal opening movement of the door so as not to offer undue resistance to this movement, the device however being so constructed as to resist or check excessive opening movement of the door.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention the check device comprises two nonextensible members pivoted together and movable from an angular relation to a parallel relation substantially end to end, a coil spring being interposed between the members and subject to deflection during relative angular movement of the members.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention the check device comprises an inextensible member and a coil spring movable into alignment in an extreme open position of the door, means being provided for deflecting the spring a relatively small amount during normal opening movement of the door. In accordance with a third embodiment of the invention the check device comprises an inextensible but bendable member connected to the coil spring for ofiering relatively light yielding resistance to normal opening movement of the door, the coil spring coming into play to ofier stiff yielding resistance at an extreme open position of the door when the members move into alignment.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification'wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly in section, illustrating a door check device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and mounted in operative relation to a door frame and door.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section taken substantially through lines 22 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. i is a fragmentary section taken substantially through lines 44 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, in part similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modified construction.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation taken substantially from lines 1-1 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken substantially through lines 8-8 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a third embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a view in elevation and partly in section taken substantially from lines lBlfl of Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken substantially through lines H-ll of Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there are illustrated, by way of example, certain embodiments of the invention wherein there is shown at l5 a door frame to which is hinged at l5 an outer door l1, such as a storm door.

With reference to the check device illustrated in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 inoluSiVe, a channel shaped bracket I8 is secured by means of screws 18a to the bottom face of the upper jamb rail or header l9 of the door frame. A link 20 in the form of a. fiat bar or strip of metal is pivoted at its inner end to a screw it extending through a central hole in the bracket it and screwed into the header IS, the end of -.ie link being held between the bottom face of the bracket and the head of the screw H. The outer end of the link 26 extends between a pair of spaced plates 22 and is riveted thereto at 23. The plates 22 extend outwardly from the outer end of the link 2% substantially at right angles thereto form in efiect a lever or crank arm. Pivoted at 24, as by means of a pin or rivet extending through the outer ends of the plates 22, is a link 25 in the form of a fiat metal strip or bar. This link is substantially the same length as the link 28 and is pivoted at its inner end by means or" a vertical bolt is to the upper inwardly extendin flange of an angle bracket 27 secured to the upper inner face of the storm door l? by means of screws 28. The link 25 is drilled to provide ahole as at a point spaced outwardly from the pivot 25 and the inner end of a tension spring at is hooked into this hole. The coil spring 30 in the closed position' of the door ll is under but sli ht tension and lies in a position substantially between the links 253 and 25 which extend substantially in parallel relation in the closed position of the door. The outer end or the coil spring as is hooked into a hole 3i in a cam lever 32, the outer end of this lever extending between the plates 22 and pivoted thereto, as by" means of a pin or rivet 33, at a point intermediate the outer ends of the links to and 25. The cam lever is contoured to provide an inclined cam edge are positioned for engagement with the rounded outer end 25a of the link 25 when the door'is moved to predetermined open position.

In Fig. 1 three" positions of the door ii are shown in full lines and in dot and dash lines,

the closed position of the doorbeing indicated at 4 A, a partial open position at B, and a full open position at C. As will be seen from an examination of Fig. l, as the stor n' door commences its opening movement the" li nksiii and 25 will swing outw'ardiy and the link E'ti will move a-ngularly relatively to the link 28. Due to the position of the connecting point're of the coil spring the angular motion oi the link 25- relativel to the lever armwill result in progressively stretching or elon ating the tension spring 3%. This action will also result in swinging the cam lev r about its pivot 33;, causing the cam" lever to approach the pivot 2 3 of the outer end o'f the link- 25. When the door 51 reaches the position shown at B, the cam lever 32 will engage the rounded end 2511 of the link as illustrated Fig. 1". As the door swings open a further distance; as for example from the position 8' toward the position C, th roundedend 25h of the link 25 will exert a force on the cam lever 3% resulting in swinging the cam lever inwardly thereby progressively stretching the spring 30.

" During normal use of the outer door ii to perrnit ingress and egress, such as when the door is swung to the position B, the spring 3i; will be stretched progressively but will not offer objection-ably strong resistance to the opening of the door. However, when the door swings outwardly beyond position B, such as by the action of a strong wind, the force exerted by the end of the link 25 against the cam lever 32*, causing the outer end of this lever to be swung inwardly away from the point of connection 29' of th inner end of the spring, will result in a material increase in the elongation of the spring which will, therefore,

greatly increase its resistance to extreme opening movement of the door beyond the position B. The strength of the spring is selected so that it will offer sufiicient resistance to extreme opening movement of the door so as to prevent any danger of the door contacting the wall of the building. Hence, any violent opening of the door by the force of a wind is fully cushioned and the danger of any damage on account of violent opening of the door isprevent'ed.

The operation of the check device as modified iii-accordance with Fig. 5 is substantially the same as that above described. In this embodiment the outer end of the coil spring 353 is connected to an eye" at one end of a link 35 which may be in the form of a flat metal strip. The opposite end or the link this-coiled about a stud 35 riveted to the plates 22 between which the link is interposed. The outer end oi the link or arm '25 is in this embodimentpivoted at '25 to the upper face of the top plate and rigidly secured" between these plates is; d eam it adapted to be engaged by the link 35 when the door reaches position 13. As the door swings beyond this position toward position C, the link 35- isv progressively wrapped around the curved surface of the cam 34' thus resuiting in progressi'vely stretching the spring, The stretching action produced by the wrapping engagement of the link 35 with the earn 3 1' is the" same as the camininga'ctionproduced by the en'- gagernent of the endof'tI'ie his: or" arm with the cam lever in the embodiment of 1.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, a channel shaped bracket 3? is secured to the header lil'by means of screws 38. The hooked end SQ'a of a coil spring" 39 is connectedto the side wall" of the bracket 31 through the medium of a hole therein located at point it. The outer hooked end 3% of the coil spring is connected to an eye "Ha at one end of a link 41 which be formed from a heavy piece of wire. The opposite endof the link terminates in an eye Mb to which is pivotally connected theouter end of a link 42 which may be formed of heavy'gau'gewire; The'opposite hooked end of the link- 42 is pivo'tally connected to ahook 43 having a threaded shankscrewed into the storm door l'l. spring tensioning' bar it, which maybe in" the'fo'rin-oi a channel-having its innerend interposedb'etween the flanges of the channel bracket 3 is pivoted to the latter by means of a rivet to extending throughthefianges of the bracket 3'? and riveted the'ret'o; The outer endof the bar 5 is-iormed with an integral laterally extending lip ie pierced to receive the link 41 and slidable thereon.

During normal use of the storm door ll to permit ingress andegress; such as when the door is swung to the position B", the tension spring 39' will be stretched progressively by means of the tensioning bar 54' but will not offer undue resist ance to the opening of the door". Due to the position of the point or connection tiller the spring 39' v to the bracket 3? relation to the pivotal point of. connection iii-of the bar it to the bracket; it Wflibe seen that the baf'fifiwill stretch 0i c1611"- gate the spring 31*} as the" oloor' moves open to the position During this time the lip =35 on the bar Mi Wllifibllt against the eye all) on the link ii and will exert an outward force causing the spring tobestretched asthe door is swung to position B. When the door swings outwardly beyond position 13 the link 5 2 will stretch the spring an increasingly greater amount, and due to this increased elongation of the spring the lip 46 will slide upon the link 4| as illustrated in Fig. 6. Thus, as the door is swung outwardly to an extreme position, such as by the force of a wind, the sprin 39 and link 42 will assume a position in which they extend in alignment and, hence, very strong resistance will be exerted against violent opening of the door beyond position C.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive, a length of chain 50 terminating in a connector 51' is secured at point 52 to the underside of the header of the door frame l5. The outer end of the chain 50 has an articulated connection with one end of a coil tension spring 53, and the outer end of this spring has an articulated connection with a second short length of chain 54. The outer end of the chain 54 is pivotally connected at 54a to a spring link 55. This link may be formed of suitable gauge spring wire bent into generally V-shape and provided with one or more coils 55a at the apex of the sides of the member 55. The terminal ends of the sides of this member are formed into a number of spring coils 55b and 550 which embrace a bolt 56 extending vertically through the spaced flanges 57a of a channel bracket 51. This bracket is secured by means of screws 58 to the inner side of the door I! near the uper end thereof.

In the operation of the check device shown in Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive it will be readily seen that opening movement of the door ll, as from the closed position A to the partially open position B, will result in drawing the end 54a, of the spring link 55 inwardly away from the face of the door, this link normally extending along the upper face of the door when the latter is in closed position. This action on the tension spring link 55, exerted by the chain and coil spring connection 55, 58 and 55, will result in progressively tensioning the spring link 55 and, hence, a moderate progresively increasing resistance will be exerted by the spring link 55 as the door moves open toward position B. This resistance offered by the spring link 55 will not be objectionably strong during normal opening of the door I! to permit ingress and egress. However, in the event the door is swung open violently, as by the force of a wind, the spring 55 will be increasingly deflected, as shown in Fig. 9, and hence this spring will offer progressively increasing resistance to the opening movement of the door toward position C. When the door reaches this position the spring link 55 will be in alignment with the tension spring 53 and the chain connectors 50, 54. Further tendency of the door to open beyond position C will be resisted by spring 53 since the link 55 will then exert a direct pull on the tension spring 53 axially thereof. From the foregoing it will, therefore, be seen that in the embodiment of Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive the opening of the door from position A to position C will be resisted by the progressive deflection of the tension spring 55. Beyond position C the resistance to the opening of the door will be accomplished mainly by the stretching or elongation of tension spring 53 which will offer greater resistance to deflection than the tension spring 55.

I claim:

1. A door check for use with a door hinged at one edge to a fixed structure, comprising a pair of elongated members having an articulated connection at adjacent ends thereof and adapted to be connected at their opposite ends to the door and said structure respectively at points moreremote from said hinged edge of the door than said articulated connection when the door is in closed position, said members being relatively movable angularly into substantial alignment when the door is swung to predetermined open position, one member being longitudinally stretchable when the members are disposed in substantial alignment and the other member extending its full length alongside and approximately parallel to the door when the door is closed and being bendable away from the door and thereby tensioned during predetermined initial opening movement of the door.

2. A door checkfor use with a door hinged at one edge to a fixed structure, comprising a pair of elongated members having an articulated connection at adjacent ends thereof and adapted to be connected at their opposite ends to the door and said structure respectively, said members being relatively movable angularly into end to end relation when the door is swung to predetermined open position, one member including a stretchable coil spring and the other member including a bendable spring adapted to be bent under tension during relative angular movement of the members prior to the disposition of the members in end to end relation, said bendable spring extending its full length alongside and approximately parallel to the door when the door is in closed position and said members extending from their end connections with said door and structure toward the hinged edge of the door when the door is in closed position whereby the articulated connection between adjacent ends of the members is disposed nearer the hinged edge of the door than said opposite ends of the members.

3. A door check for use with a door hinged at one edge to a fixed structure, comprising a pair of elongated members having an articulated connection at adjacent ends thereof and adapted to be connected at their opposite ends to the door and said structure respectively at points more remote from said hinged edge of the door than said articulated connection when the door is in closed position, said members being relatively movable angularly into substantial alignment when the door is swung to predetermined open position, one member being longitudinally stretchable when the members are disposed in substantial alignment and the other member extending its full length alongside and approximately parallel to the door when the door is closed and being bendable away from the door and thereby tensioned during predetermined initial opening movement of the door, means for connecting said one member to said structure, and means for connecting said other member to the door.

4. A door check for use with a door hinged at one edge to a fixed structure, comprising a pair of elongated members having an articulated connection at adjacent ends thereof and adapted to be connected at their opposite ends to the door and said structure respectively, said members being relatively movable angularly into end to end relation when the door is swung to predetermined open position, one member including a stretchable coil spring and the other member including a bendable spring adapted to be bent under tension during relative angular movement of the members prior to the disposition of the members in end to end relation, said bendable spring extending its full length alongside and approxi- 2%69'6 284 8 mately parallel to the door when the door in REFERENCES CITED cl fi dp si nd-"sa d members extending from The im-lowing references are of record in'the their end connections with said door-and strucvfilejfq-lhis patent: ture'toward the hinged edge of thedoor when :the

door is in 'closed position whereby the'articulated 5 {UNITED STATES PATENTS connection between adjacent ends of the mem- Number Name Date hers 'is disposed nearer the hinged-edge of the $675,286 'McCurry -4 May 28,1901 door than said opposite ends of the members, 796,420 Hall Aug.8, 1905 meansfor connecting said one memberto said 832,603 Fritts Oct. 9, 1906 structure, and means for connecting said other to 1,608g402 Larkin Nov. 23, 1926 member to the door. 1,691,754 Busaker *Nov. 13, 1928 FRED L. THARP. "231L790 Tharp Feb. 23, 1943 

